Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned following prolonged student protests and has departed for India, but her challenges have only intensified. The Awami League leader faces new obstacles as the United States has canceled her visa and the United Kingdom has refused her request for asylum.
Also Read: Hasina’s Fate Sealed as Bangladesh Army Refuses to Suppress Protests
Upon arriving in India, Hasina was expected to use the country as a temporary refuge while she sought asylum in the UK. However, Indian media reports indicate that she might also consider Finland as an alternative destination. The newly elected British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, has declined to grant her asylum due to the UK’s new policies, which require asylum seekers to first reside in another country where their reasons for seeking asylum are evaluated.
In the meantime, the US has canceled Hasina’s visa, although there has been no official comment from the American government on this decision. A US State Department spokesperson recently confirmed that the US stands with the people of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Modi administration has allowed Hasina to remain in India until she secures asylum elsewhere, maintaining a degree of support for her despite the political upheaval.
